Compare towns
Topsham vs Lincoln vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the most kids (18% under 18).
Lincoln has the most expensive homes ($365k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Topsham | Lincoln | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999Lowest |
1,394Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wells and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
$96,667±$18kHighest 19% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Lincoln and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$365,200±$30kHighest 15% above VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$398 26% below VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,006 21% below VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3% VT: 73.2% |
88.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 49% above VT |
30 minLowest 26% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Lincoln and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Waits River Union High District #36 | Lincoln Town School District | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.